CROWN LANDS * ADMINISTRATION.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.]
Sra,—Your timely article on Crown Lauds' Administration, sets out in the clearest light the serious danger to the public interest attending the theory and practice of that administra- tion, as exemplified in the recent sales of the Southport fore- shore, and the Crown manor of Esher and Escott. Indeed, the case against, the Duchy Office, in the affairs of the Southport foreshore, is far stronger than might be inferred from the facts as adduced in your columns. After years of protracted negotia- tions between the Duchy and the, Southpott Corporation, the sale of the foreshore was suddenly, in April last, concluded by the former with the lords of the mauor,—the Southport deputa- tion, then in London, having been completely taken by surprise and allowed a few hours only to formulate their counter-offer. Yet that offer, so far from falling short, was actually in excess of the price accepted from the riparian owners. For the South- port people offered 212,000, cash down, for 4,000 acres, the possession of which, as being conterminous with the borough boundaries, they regarded as of vital consequence to the interests -of the town ; whilst for the remaining portion—about 5,000 acres—they proposed to give a sum equal to 5 per cent. of the ultimate value of the land after reclamation, a sum which has been estimated as high as 226,000, and which, at the lowest -computation, must have raised the total price to be paid to the Duchy far above the 215,000 actually accepted from the lords of the manor. The latter, indeed, must evidently be think_ ing very well of their purchase, for they would appear, from a letter submitted by their agents only two days ago to the Town Council of Southport, to be now asking for the fractional quantity of some 1,3C0 acres alone of foreshore, the modest price of 225,000, or a larger sum by 210,030 than the price they have actually agreed to pay to the Duchy for the whole 9,000 acres. It is not quite so clear that the officials of the Duchy can be equally entitled to congratulate themselves upon a transaction which, whilst it is pretty certain to result in the most serious injury to a large and popular watoringplace, seems also not unlikely to turn out anything but a good bargain for the Crown.
On a par with the lamentable action of the Duchy in this matter of the Southport foreshore, must be accounted the not less indefensible conduct of the Office of Woods and Forests in disposing of that part of the Crown manor of Esher -which comprises the beautiful Commons of Esher and Ockshott. After so questionable a performance, both Parliament and the public may be excused for viewing with natural misgiving the .course taken in the present Session by this same Department in promoting a Bill (Crown Lands) with the double object of ex- tinguishing, by the arbitrary means of compulsory purchase, the wholesome fuel-rights so long enjoyed by commoners of the New Forest, and of acquiring greatly extended powers for the leasing of foreshores,—the latter apparently in the teeth of the admirable Report upon Foreshores issued some years ago by the Board of Trade, in which any longer term thafi thirty-one years is deprecated for such leases.
Altogether, the experience of the present Session alone must have sufficed to make it clear that the Departments charged with the administration of Crown lands cannot be safely trusted to act at all times upon a broad and enlightened view of the re- quirements of the public interest, and that if all danger to that interest is to be obviated, it can only be as you suggest, by in- sisting that transactions such as those in question shall in no ease be carried out without the direct sanction of Parliament. We may, I think, rest assured that a Resolution to that effect will be among the very first questions submitted for the con- sideration of the House of Commons in the new Session of 1884. —I am, Sir, dec.,
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